The United States and England rarely have the opportunity to meet twice in less than a week. The first came last weekend, as part of the Oktober Fest 7 rugby tournament in Munich, with the two teams competing for 7th place in this international tournament. England has won 12 to 7. This time, it is in Rugby World Cup that the two teams will meet, Thursday, September 26 in Kobe, for a confrontation that is likely to turn, once again. more, to the advantage of the English.
The United States will indeed struggle to compete with the Rose XV, currently third world nation, while they are in 13th place and belong to the second division of world rugby. They have participated in practically all the World Cups since the creation of this competition in 1987. But the victories are rare, the last dating back to September 2011 against Russia (13-6). And the Eagles find themselves in the most qualified qualifying hen of the World Cup in Japan: after the English, they will have to rub French, Argentinian and Tongan.
Their chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals are logically very lean. But it is essential for them to look good in this competition. American rugby is currently in a new phase of development, in the wake of the launch in 2018 of Major League Rugby, a professional competition that currently has nine clubs. The first two seasons saw the Seattle Seawolves win. For the third season, three more teams are expected and the format of the competition should change, two conferences to see the day in the east and west of the country.
Disseminated players
The number of rugby players, which is around 132,000 currently being fired, should logically continue to increase in the country, ultimately benefiting the various national teams. This new championship, however, also attracts many foreign players, including former internationals who want to try a new experience at the end of their career. This is the case of the three-quarter French center Mathieu Bastareaud, current player of the club of Lyon, who has chosen to join for a few months next season the franchise of New York, where he should particularly rub elbows with former British international Benjamin Foden .
A dozen players in these professional franchises were selected in the group of 31 Americans selected for the World Cup. The others play mainly in Europe, in clubs more or less upscale. And it is very difficult for the American management to succeed in regularly gathering these players scattered on several continents. And international matches are rare, with the exception of those organized every year as part of the America Rugby Championship, in which Canada, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina's reserve team participate. A competition won twice by the Americans on the first four editions.
Many knowledgeable observers believe, however, that the Eagles are on the right track and will be able to demonstrate it in Japan. Interviewed by the New York Times, former US captain Dan Lyle insists that the players are now much more professional and that the "United States do not limp when approaching this World Cup". This former player, who has worn 45 times the US jersey, is looking forward to seeing many young people in this group because they will gain experience for future editions of the World Cup. This is the case of the pillar David Ainu'u, less than 20 years old. Usually, he plays with the hopes of Toulouse Stadium, he will face English opponents of a different caliber on Thursday.